The good news continues as the LTA and the government slowly relax the restrictions on playing tennis.
The up to date position is outlined below.
Our overriding concern will always be the wellbeing of the membership so please abide by the measures listed below. Before coming to the club please make yourself aware of the latest government advice regarding Coronavirus – click here.
If you feel unwell stay at home and do not come to the club until you are well again. Ultimately everyone should consider their own circumstances and make their own personal risk assessment about when they wish to resume playing tennis. The club in turn will do all we can to ensure the club is as safe as possible. Sanitisers have been be fitted at strategic points around the club and we are providing sprays and sterilising wipes as supplies become available. To conserve our limited supply of liquid refills players are asked to bring their own sanitisers for use on court but please do not spill any of the liquid on the court surface.
Following the recent advice from the LTA in addition to the court booking system we are now able to offer social tennis in a controlled format and club competitions have been revived. If you wish to play at the club please adhere to the measures below.
Measures for playing tennis:
Read the advice for players on the LTA website – click here.
- The courts are open to people who wish to play but this is at their own risk.
- Courts should be booked using the on line booking system only. Booking should not exceed 60 minutes for singles and 90 minutes for doubles or 2 hours for tournament matches.
- If all players agree one set of balls can be used for a match. Otherwise players should serve using their own balls
- Arrive ready to play and avoid congregating after play unless you are in the area of by clubhouse which has been configured to conform to social distancing protocols
- Players should rotate round the court when changing ends rather than everyone using the same side. Players should consider only changing ends after every 4 games rather than 2 or even just at the end of a set.
- Follow the government guidelines on safe distancing
- Beware people will have different anxiety levels about the virus, so be considerate.
Protocol with regard to tennis balls
The communal use of balls is now allowed but players can chose to use their own marked balls when serving if they wish to do so.
Issuing of tennis balls
The provision of tennis balls is included in your membership fee. If you require a sleeve of balls you can collect and sign for a tube in the wooden shed by the clubhouse. Mark you balls and bring them each time you play and take them home with you afterwards. Balls are only available to players who have paid their 2020/21 membership subscription.
Tracing
In the unlikely event of someone playing tennis developing symptoms of Coronavirus the club will be asked to provide details of the players who were in the vicinity. If you come to the club to play the person who made the booking should also complete the simple record sheet (see the example below) and retain the sheet (or equivalent in excel or word) in case the information is needed at later date. Please erase or destroy after 21 days
RPLTC – Coronavirus playing record | |
Player making the booking | |
Date | |
Start and finish time | |
Court number | |
Player 1 | |
Player 2 | |
Player 3 | |
Player 4 | |
Coaching
Russell has provided revised coaching guidelines in line with the LTA protocol. Please can all parents and players read these before attending lessons – Click Here.
Clubhouse
The toilet facilities in the clubhouse are now open. Please follow the hygiene procedures indicated on the door. The bar will also be open on Thursdays and Sundays on a limited basis. Please follow the bar protocol displayed outside the clubhouse and be aware different social distancing rules apply when you are inside or outside the clubhouse.
I appreciate all the above measures are onerous but I hope you will agree, if it’s the difference between playing and not playing its worth a bit of inconvenience until we can get back to some form of normality. . I will provide further updates as we continue to refine playing practices.
Take care,
Hugh
Club Chairman
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